Cash register



E. H. PLACKE CASH REGISTER Oct. 17, 1939.

Filed Oct. 17, 1936 His Cittorneg Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE National Cash Register Company,

Dayton,

Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Application October 17, 1936, Serial No. 106,094

7 Claims.

This invention relates to cash registers and accounting machines, and more particularly to an improved type of differential mechanism.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a latch operating mechanism which will prevent premature disengagement of the latch from its driver when the machine is operated at an excessive speed.

Another object is to provide a latch operating mechanism which places a minimum load on the main operating shaft of the machine.

A further object is to provide a latch disengageable from its driver by relative movement between the latch and actuator.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification.

Of said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view in right elevation of r the differential mechanism, showing the latch operating mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a detail side View of the means for controlling the differential actuator by the totalizer wheel.

Fig. 3 is a detail side view of the latch operating mechanism.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The present invention is shown in the accompanying drawing as embodied in a machine of the general type illustrated and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,619,796, issued March 1, 1927, to Bernis M. Shipley, to which reference is hereby made for a complete disclosure of those features of the machine which are not specifically disclosed in this application.

In such types of machines depressible keys are employed for introducing values into the machine. Depression of a key serves to introduce a value, corresponding to the numeral on the key, into a differentially movable actuator, said value being subsequently transmitted from said actuator to the proper totalizer wheels.

Associated with each differential actuator is another differentially movable member adapted to be controlled by the actuator through a lever or what is commonly known in this art as a beam construction. This member, through the beam connection, differentially sets the usual indicating mechanism and printing mechanism for indicating and printing, respectively, the values of the keys depressed.

When taking totals from the totalizer wheels or resetting said wheels to zero, the totalizer wheels control the differential actuator in; a 5 manner to be fully described hereinafter.

Each differentially movable actuator is connected by a latch to a driver which receives one complete excursion of movement during each cycle of operation of the machine. Such machines receive one cycle of operation during adding operations and two cycles of operations during total taking operations. During adding operations the depressed key causes the latch to be disengaged from the driver to control the differential positioning of said actuator, while during total taking operations the totalizer wheels cause the latch to be disengaged from the driver. When such machines were operated at excessive speed trouble was experienced with the premature disengagement of said latch from its driver. It was also found that the disengagement of said latch from its driver placed a greater load on the main drive shaft of the machine than was really necessary.

To overcome these conditions, the present invention provides a latch operating mechanism which will prevent premature disengagement of the latch from its driver when the machine is operated at excessive speeds, and also, when said latch is disengaged at the proper time, togreatly reduce the amount of load thereby placed on the main drive shaft of the machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present machine is operated by either an electric motor or a manually operable crank in the usual manner, and it is thought unnecessary, in view of the above mentioned patent, to include any description of the operating mechanism in this application. It is thought to be sufficient to state that the operating mechanism drives a main drive shaft 6| (Fig. 1) which, in turn, operates the mechanism of the machine.

Keyboard setting operations.

sitioning of an actuator 63 during adding operations, are slidably mounted in a key frame 64 supported at its upper end by a rod 55 and at its lower end by a rod 00, both of said rods being mounted in the machine side frames (not shown). The keys are normally maintained in their undepressed positions by the usual coiled springs 61 (only one of which is shown). When the keys are depressed they are held in such depressed positions by a. locking detent supported at its upper end by a bell crank 09 and at its lower end by an arm (not shown), both said bell crank and arm being pivotally mounted on the frame 04. When one of the keys is depressed, a pin 10 thereon coacts with a cam portion of a hook II formed integral with the detent 68 to cam the latter downwardly against the action of a spring (not shown) until the pin clears the hook I I, after which said spring moves the detent upwardly to lock the hook "II over the pin 70 to retain said key in its depressed position.

Near the end of the operation of the machine, the detent 60 is moved downwardly, by mechanism fully shown and described in the above mentioned patent, far enough to disengage the hook H from the pin 70, thus permitting the spring 61 to move the depressed key to its normal undepressed position.

A zero stop I6 (Fig. 1) is provided for causing the differentially movable actuator to be arrested in its zero position when the machine is operated with no key depressed. During adding opera tions this pawl is moved out of its normal effective position by depression of any one of the keys 62. When a key is depressed, the pin 10 thereon coacts with a cam portion II of another detent I8 to cam said detent downwardly against the action of a spring 82. This detent is supported at its upper end by an arm (not shown) and at its lower end by a curved arm I9, both of said arms being pivotally mounted on the frame 04. When the detent I8 is thus moved downwardly, it rocks the arm 79 clockwise and, in so doing, causes the inner edge of the curved portion of said arm to coact with a pin 80 on one end of a lever 8I pivoted at 86 to the frame 64 and rock said lever 8I counter-clockwise against the action of the spring 82. The other end of the lever BI is provided with a slot 83 through which projects a pin 04 carried by the zero stop Thus, such counter-clockwise movement of the lever 8 I through the slot and pin connection 83, 84, slides the zero stop l6 toward the left in a guide member carried by the frame 64, thus .moving said pawl to an ineffective position.

When the depressed key 02 is returned to its normal undepressed position, the spring 82 through the arm SI, returns the zero stop 16 and the detent I3 to their normal positions.

Difierential mechanism There are provided in the machine as many difierential mechanisms as there are amount banks of keys, and there may be one or more additional differential mechanisms to take care of the overflow amounts. Inasmuch as each of said differential mechanisms is identically the same, a description of one will suffice for all. Each differential mechanism is controlled by its respective bank of amount keys 02 to accumulate on totalizers and set indicators and type wheels.

The present machine is given one cycle of operation during adding operations and two cycles of operation during total taking or totalizer re- The mechanism for conditioning the machine for one and two cycle operations is old and well known in the art, as fully shown and described in the above mentioned Shipley patent, and therefore is not described herein.

Each differential mechanism includes a differentially movable actuator 63 (Fig. l) which is provided with racks BI and transfer carrying arms 92 for operating totalizer wheels 93 arranged on two different lines. While the actuator 63 is shown provided with three racks SI for operating totalizer wheels on a like number of different lines, only two such lines are used in the present machine and consequently only two of said racks will be effective. The actuator 63 is loosely mounted on a shaft 94 carried by the machine side frames.

During each cycle of operation of the machine, the actuator 63 is driven first in a clockwise direction and then in a counter-clockwise direction by a segmental shaped driver It", also loosely mounted on the shaft 94, which driver is given an invariable movement, during each cycle of operation of the machine, by means to be hereinafter described.

The actuator 63 is connected to the driver I0! by means of a latch I02 pivotally mounted on an arm I83 also loose on the shaft 94. A pin I04 on the latch I02 projects through and works in an inclined slot I05 formed in the actuator I53. The present invention provides a counter-balance plate I06 arranged parallel with and adjacent to the actuator 03, said plate being loose on the shaft 94 and resiliently connected to the actuator 63 by a spring I0'I. The plate I06 is provided with a curved slot I08 substantialy at right angles to the inclined slot I05 in the actuator 63. The pin I04 also projects through and works in the slot I08. Thus the plate I06, through the slot I08 and its resilient connection with the actuator 63 normally serves to hold the pin I04 at the bottom of the slot I05 in the actuator 63 to thereby maintain the latch I02 in engagement with a shoulder I00 formed on the periphery of the driver Ill I. With the latch I02 thus engaged With the shoulder I09, the driver I01, during its v clockwise movement, moves the actuator 63 and plate I06 clockwise until the latch I02 is disengaged from said driver, under control of either the Zero stop "I6 or a depressed amount key 62 in the case of an adding operation. If it is a two cycle or total taking operation, thenthe actuator 63 is arrested under control of a totalizer wheel 03, as will be later described.

In order to overcome trouble hitherto experienced with the premature disengagement of the latch I02 from its driver IOI when the machine was operated at an excessive speed, the present invention provides the counter-balance plate I06 which constantly tends to maintain the latch I02 in engagement with its driver. When one of the keys 62 is depressed, the lower end thereof is positioned in the path of movement of a projection I I0 on the actuator 63. Thus, when the actuator 63 and its associated plate I06 are moved clockwise by the driver IOI the projection IIO strikes the end of the depressed key and thereby arrests the movement of the actuator 63. When this occurs, the latch I02 and plate I06 continue to move clockwise relatively to said actuator until the slot I05, through its engagement with the pin I04, cams thelatch I 02 counter-clockwise, against the action of the slot I 08 in the plate I06, to disengage the latch from the driver IN.

When the latch I02 is thus disengaged from the driver, a projection III formed on said latch will engage one of a series of notches I I2 in a stationary locking plate I I3 to maintain said latch in the position where it was disengaged from its driver I6I.

Through the camming action of the slot I65 on the pin. I64, against the influence of the yieldable means formed by the spring IGl, the plate I96 the actuator 53, the premature disengagement of the latch I52 from the driver I6I when the machine is operated at excessive speeds is obviated. In addition, such arrangement facilitates the disengagement of the latch from the driver at the proper time and thereby reduces to a minimum the amount of load thus placed on the main drive shaft 5|.

The means for giving the driver I6I its invariable movement during each cycle of operation of the machine consists of two pairs of cams I 2! and I22 (only one pair being shown) pinned on. the main drive shaft 6I, each pair being located near opposite ends of said shaft. Associated with each pair of cams I2I and I22 is a separate lever I23 (only one of which is shown), each of which carries a pair of rollers I24 and I25 coacting with its respective pair of cams I2I and I22. The levers I23 are each pivoted on its respective frame 95 and carry a rod I26. The shaft 6!, as is customary in such types of machines, is given one complete clockwise rotation during single cycle or adding operations and two complete clockwise rotations during double cycle or total taking operations. Consequently, the cams MI and I22 are rotated likewise and in so doing rock the levers i 23 first clockwise and then counter-clockwise during each cycle of operation of the machine. Associated with each differential mechanism is a Y-shaped lever I27 pivotally mounted on the frame 95 and secured to the rod I25. Thus movement of the levers I23 is transmitted, through the rod I26, to the levers I 21 which are each connected by a link I28 to its associated driver IllI, thereby driving the latter in a like manner.

During adding operations, while the actuator 63 is advanced clockwise, the totalizer wheels remain out of mesh with their appropriate actuator racks 9i until said actuator is arrested by a depressed key, when said wheels are moved into engagement with said differentially adjusted actuator 63, after which the actuator is restored to its normal position by a stud I29 on the driver I9 I, and in so doing the racks 9| turn the totalizer wheels 93 clockwise to register thereon the amount represented by the depressed key. When the actuator 63 reaches its home position, the wheels are moved out of engagement therewith.

The mechanism for controlling the engagement of the totalizer wheels 63 with, and their disengagement from, the actuator 63 is old and well known in the art, as disclosed in the above mentioned Shipley patent, and therefore is not shown or described herein.

Total taking operations During total taking operations the present machine is given two cycles of operation as compared to one cycle during adding operations, as heretofore explained. The purpose of the two cycles of operation during such operations is to allow sufficient time for the selection of a desired totalizer.

During the first cycle of a two cycle or total taking operation, the actuator 63 is arrested in its Zero position by the Zero stop I6, while the totalizer wheels 93 remain out of engagement with said actuator until near the end of said first cycle of operation. Near the end of the first cycle, the zero stop I6 is moved out of the path of the actuator 63 and the selected totalizer wheel 93 is moved into engagement therewith. Consequently, during the second cycle of said operation, the actuator 63 upon its clockwise movement rotates the totalizer wheel 93 counterclockwise until it reaches its Zero position, whereupon it is arrested by a long tooth 536 formed thereon striking the upper side of a flange IS? on an arm I38 which is normally held against clockwise movement by means hereinafter described. The actuator 63 being at this time in engagement with the wheel 93 is accordingly arrested in a position corresponding to the amount which was standing on the .totalizer wheel 93, while a link I39, through a beam I46, adjusts the indicator and type wheel (not shown) correspondingly. When the actuator 63 is moved in the manner above described, a roller 45 on the lever I2l coacts with the beam I49 to adjust the link I39, and the indicating and printing mechanisms associated therewith, to set said mechanisms according to the position in which said actuator is arrested.

Whether the operation is a total talnng and clearing operation or a sub-total taking and reading operation depends upon whether the totalizer wheels 93 are disengaged from the racks 9| when the totalizer wheels 93 reach their zero positions, or are kept in mesh therewith while the actuator 53 is returned to its normal position. Such arrangement is old and well known. in the art, as disclosed in the above mentioned Shipley patent, and therefore is not shown or described herein.

When the actuator 63 is thus arrested by the totalizer wheels 93, the latch I02 is disengaged from its driver IllI in identically the same manner as when the actuator 63 is arrested by a depressed key 62 during adding operations.

The means for normally holding the arm 535 against clockwise movement during total taking operation also forms a part of the transfer mechanism. Since a carrying operation is not pertinent to the present invention, no detailed description of how the carry takes place will be given herein. How-ever, since certain elements of the transfer mechanism are used to arrest the totalizer wheel 93 and its actuator 63 during total taking operations, only so much of that mechanism as is necessary to understand the total taking operation will be described herein.

The arm I38, which arrests the totalizer wheels 93 in its Zero position during total taking opera tions, is pivotally mounted on a stud 55 carried by a frame 95 supported by rods 96 and ti carried by the usual machine side frames and is rigidly connected to the upper arm of a lever I by a pin I41. The lever I45 is also freely mounted on the stud I45 and, through a coiled spring (not shown) surrounding the stud I45, said lever M5 and the arm I38 are constantly urged in a cl-ocizwise direction to cause the lower arm of the lever I56 to coact with a transfer trip pawl 54.6. The pawl I49 is pivotally mounted on a. stud 948 carried by the frame 95. A shoulder I55 on the lower arm of the lever I46 normally engages a square stud I5I on the pawl I49 to hold the latter in its untripped position. The pawl I49 is normally urged in a clockwise direction: by a spring I52 but, through the engagement of the stud Hill with the shoulder I56, is prevented from doing so. Such engagement of the stud I5! with the shoulder I56 also serves to hold the arm I38 against clockwise movement during total taking operations, when the long tooth I36 on the totalizer wheel 93 strikes the flange I31 of the arm I38 and thereby causes the arrestment of the actuator 63, as previously explained.

When the totalizer wheel 93 is rotated clockwise by the actuator 63 during adding operations, the long tooth I36 will as said wheel passes from 9 to zero position, strike the under side of the flange I31 and rock the arm I38 and, through the pin I41, the lever I46 counter-clockwise to disengage the shoulder I50 from the stud I5I to thereby release the pawl I49 to the action of the spring I52. The spring I52 rocks the pawl I49 clockwise to trip the transfer mechanism to effeet a carry. Such clockwise movement of the pawl I4?! is limited by a toe I53 formed on the lower end of the lever I46.

The usual three-armed member I54 is provided for restoring any tripped pawls I49, together with their associated levers I46 and arms I38, to their normal untripped positions.

In view of the fact that the mechanism of the present invention is comparatively simple and its operation is fully set forth in the foregoing description, it is not thought necessary to further give a summary of the operation.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an actuator having a slot; a driver therefor; means to arrest said actuator in different positions; a latch normally engaged with said driver; a member carrying said latch; an element adjacent said actuator and having a slot substantially at right angles to the slot in said actuator; a pin carried by said latch which projects through and Works in the slots in both said actuator and said element to connect them to said driver; and a spring connecting said element to said actuator to form a resilient means for normally holding said latch in engagement with said driver and which yields when the actuator is arrested during its movement so that the latch through the slot in said actuator is cammed out of engagement with the driver.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an actuator having an inclined slot; a driver; means to arrest said actuator; a latch normally engaged with said driver; means on said latch coacting with the slot in said actuator; an element adjacent the actuator and having a slot with which said means also coacts; a spring connecting said element to said actuator to normally hold said latch in engagement with said driver and when the actuator is arrested during its movement the element allows the actuator through said means to cam the latch out of engagement with the driver.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a driver; a latch; a pin on said latch; an actuator having an inclined slot which normally coacts with said pin to connect said actuator to said driver; a plate having a slot sub stantially at right angles to the slot in said actuator and which coacts with said pin to hold said latch in engagement with said driver; a spring yieldably connecting said plate to said actuator; and means for arresting the actuator whereupon said pin will move the plate until the latter releases the latch to the action of the slot in the actuator which cams said latch out of engagement with the driver.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an actuator having a slot; a plate adjacent said actuator and also having a slot; a driver; a latch normally coupling said actuator to said driver; and a pin on the latch coacting with slots in both the actuator and the plate, said slots being cooperable to retain the latch in its normal coupling position and to control the uncoupling of the latch from the driver, by the actuator.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an actuator having an inclined slot; a driver for said actuator; means to arrest the actuator in various positions; a counterbalance plate resiliently connected to said actuator and having a slot substantially at right angles to the slot in said actuator; a latch normally engaged with said driver; and means carried by said latch and coacting with the aforesaid oppositely inclined slots which normally serves to hold the latch in engagement with the driver until the actuator is arrested whereupon one of said slots cooperates with said means to withdraw the latch from engagement with the driver.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotatable differential actuator having an angular slot therein inclined in a direction oblique to that of its rotation; means coacting directly with the difierential actuator to arrest the actuator differentially; a driver for the differential actuator; a coupling pawl normally connected to the driver; a projection on the coupling pawl projecting into the angular slot in the actuator; and a braking device associated with the actuator and having an angular slot into which said projection projects, said last named angular slot disposed at an angle permitting relative movement between the actuator and braking device when the actuator is arrested.

'7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotatable differential actuator having an angular slot therein inclined in a direction oblique to that of its rotation; means coacting directly with the differential actuator to arrest the actuator dilferentially; a driver for the diiferential actuator; a coupling pawl normally connected to the driver; a projection on the coupling pawl projecting into the angular slot in the actuator; and a braking device associated with the actuator and having an angular slot into which said projection projects, said last named angular slot disposed at an angle to cause the braking device to maintain the pawl in connection with the driver until the actuator is arrested, whereupon the angular slot in the actuator guides the pawl out of engagement with the driver.

EVERETT H. PLACKE. 

